UNITED NATIONS, May 21: The United States tabled a resolution on Thursday which asks the UN Security Council to exempt its troops from international war crimes prosecutions while serving in any UN force in Iraq , despite reports of endemic US abuse of prisoners there.

Without prior notice to the members of the Security Council, US demanded an immediate vote to renew the contentious Security Council Resolution 1487. This measure grants immunity to personnel in UN authorized or approved operations from states that have not ratified the International Criminal Court (ICC) treaty.

A similar resolution granting immunity to US peacekeepers was first adopted in July 2002, and was renewed by Resolution 1487 last year. Resolution 1487 does not require renewal for another five weeks.

The Security Council planned to meet on Friday afternoon to give member states a chance to express their views, and diplomats predicted a vote afterward on a US resolution to extend the exemption granted last year.

The Bush administration had sought a permanent exemption for American peacekeepers. But facing strong opposition last year, it settled for a one-year exclusion. It also applies to other countries that have not ratified the Rome treaty establishing the International Criminal Court.

Besides seeking the exemption extension, Washington has signed bilateral agreements with 89 countries that bar any prosecution of American officials by the court, and is seeking more such treaties. Human rights groups and activists have asked the other members of the UN Security Council to oppose the US move.

"Given the recent revelations from the Abu Ghraib prison, the US government has picked one hell of a moment to ask for special treatment on war crimes," said Richard Dicker, director of the International Justice Programme at the Human Rights Watch. "The UN Security Council should not grant special favours to any country, including the United States."

The Human Rights Watch said the US government wanted to push an ICC resolution through as quickly as possible so that the contentious issue would not overshadow efforts to win Security Council backing for the transfer of sovereignty to Iraqi authorities on June 30.

In 2002, the Bush administration insisted on an ICC exemption for US troops involved in UN operations seemed unnecessary at the time. In light of recent abuses by US forces in Iraq, this insistence has taken on a more sinister meaning.

Just hours before he proposed Security Council renewal of Resolution 1487, Ambassador James Cunningham, Deputy US Representative to the United Nations, said during a Council debate on Iraq that the "shameful acts" committed by US forces against Iraqi detainees would be punished.

"The ICC can only prosecute the most serious crimes where national courts fail to punish those responsible," said Dicker. "It is time for the United States to demonstrate that it will abide by international standards and has nothing to fear from the ICC."

Last year, the resolution to exempt US peacekeepers was adopted by a vote of 12-0 with three abstentions - France, Germany and Syria. Similarly, three countries-France, Germany and Spain- are likely to abstain on the present resolution.

The United States maintains that it has minimum nine votes to secure the passage of the resolution without a veto from the five permanent members. Diplomats here said that Pakistan was likely to vote for the resolution.

CHINA DELAYS: China on Friday delayed the Security Council vote on the conriviersila measure to extend the immunity of US peacekeeping troops from prosecution for war crimes, adds AFP